New York is known for its decades-old Jewish delis and Zabar’s Deli is one of the oldest and best known of them all. In addition to its sandwiches and pastries, Zabar’s selection of gourmet foods and gift baskets and hampers make it worth visiting even if you’re not hungry.
A young Ukrainian immigrant named Louis Zabar founded Zabar’s Deli in 1934 as a smoked fish stand in an Upper West Side market. Over the years, the deli bought out its neighbors, and today, it fills two floors of its original building.
On the first floor, you will find the deli. For breakfast, get a freshly baked bagel with cream cheese. For lunch, have a soup or a sandwich. The hot pastrami sandwich here is among New York’s best.The first floor also has a bakery, which makes pastries, cakes and cookies. Try a knish, which is a traditional Jewish pastry filled with potatoes or various types of vegetables.
On the second floor, peruse what the deli calls The Mezzanine. Here, you will find an array of gourmet and rare food items such as cheese, preserves and smoked fish.
The Mezzanine also features a large collection of kitchen tools, appliances and gadgets. Browse through a wide variety of juicers, kettles, slicers and other miscellaneous kitchen items.
Zabar’s Deli is open every day of the year. Come on a weekday outside of lunchtime to avoid the often heavy crowds. Despite its size, Zabar’s can fill up fast and the narrow aisles can be hard to navigate on the weekends.
If you are driving, park at the garage just across the street from Zabar’s. Spend more than $25 at the deli and you can validate your parking for a cheaper rate. If you are without a car, Zabar’s is only a block north of a metro stop.
